News - Soap Buzz

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November 13th, 2012
Josh Duhamel Sells Primetime Soap Pilot Set Behind-The-Scenes Of A Soap During The Faltering Times Of The Genre!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

We were wondering who would be the person to be able to get a juicy drama of what goes on behind-the-scenes at a daytime soap during the trying times the genre faces on primetime television. And today, that person turns out to be motion picture star and former Daytime Emmy winner, Josh Duhamel (Ex-Leo, AMC)!

Deadline.com is reporting that yet another primetime soap pilot project has been bought by ABC, who has associated with it none other than Revenge writers-producers Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts from an original idea by actor Josh Duhamel.

The untitled ABC project takes place behind the scenes of a daytime soap and explores the loves, lives, and lunacy at an on-the-bubble series, where the antics of the cast and crew are crazier than any of the plot lines they broadcast. Set during a time when the daytime drama genre is faltering, this larger-than-life “workplace family” fights a never-ending, desperate battle to keep their show on the air, their egos secure, and their relationships intact. Duhamel can certainly draw on personal experience, having started off on the ABC soap All My Children. He co-created the show with Berg and Harberts, who will write the script. Mark Gordon, Nicholas Pepper, Berg, Harberts, Duhamel and his friend, fellow actor Oliver Hudson will executive produce.

So what do you think of this one soapers? Excited? Sound like a drama-filled, “Soap Dish”? Let us know your thoughts!

Well have mixed feelings about it sounds like a good show but think being it is on abc a lot of soapfans will be very upset if they can make this show how come they can not bring our soaps back een if they have to hire new actors at least give it a try

I find it painfully ironic that ABC has bought this series. Oh gee, ABC-NOW you’re making fun of the genre you wanted to destroy? Which is it, do we matter, or don’t we? If this project gets off the ground, we’ll know our answer…

Agreed. The only show I will watch on ABC is GH, so I may never see this show. I do love the concept. I’ve thought over the last few years that the drama behind the scenes of our favorite daytime shows was more dramatic than the soaps themselves. Maybe I’ll sneak a peek.

Agree with the above two comments. ABC you disgusted me I can’t believe you would cancel two shows with such history and you keep making prime time soaps. Why didn’t you just move daytime to primetime and maybe your rating would be in the trash right now. Wake up

Marcia White replied November 15th, 2012 at 4:04 pm

Totally agree. Although I love Josh, I will not be watching this show on ABC. A boycott is a boycott.

I just find it incredibly interesting that ABC keeps green lighting these primetime soaps….yet they were so quick to throw the axe down on their daytime lineup. To me, there’s no difference between a daytime soap and a primetime soap….except that daytime soaps air every day, and they’re a lot juicier… For a network that claims the genre is dead, they sure love pumping out soaps.

ABC bought, eh? Doubt it will ever see the light of day, er, make that, night. If it were to be real, it certainly would have sooo much to draw upon considering how ABC treated its stellar soaps: AMC and OLTL. Of course, P&G soaps are fuel for fodder, for sure. I would be VERY interested in watching this type of show. Hope it makes it on air.

this behind the scenes soap better address why daytime soaps have such a problem w/ racial diversity. hispanics make up 10% of the demographics yet they are heavily under represented on soaps. more annoying is that soaps even have the temerity to hire white actors to portray hispanic roles! asian americans are growing as a demographic and are even expanding more than hispanics. yet have there ever been long term core asian american families and asian male romantic leading men on soaps? the stereotype of primetime and especially daytime soaps are that they are backwards. soaps are like the gop. they have branding problems and they have not reached racial minority demographics and have alienated racial minorities. soaps are too white centric and the exclusion of racial minorities is perceived as racist.

I disagree. All My Children wasn’t known as “the teaching soap” for nothing. Both AMC and One Life To Live had very progressive storylines. AMC first dealt with abortion, HIV/AIDS, and Bianca’s coming out was epic. The Angie & Jesse reunion was very moving (not to mention beautifully shot, great photography). OLTL had the first gay love scene between two men, and the writers mastered the DID mental health issue the second (and subsequent) time(s) around, educating audiences. The Vega and Ganon families were always awesome and Nora’s Judaism was never ignored. I don’t think the diversity viewers were exposed to on both shows should be underestimated.

Mixed feelings… not sure I like a show that is about a genre that is dying… does that help push it over the edge into the grave or does it somehow show why it shouldn’t die and find away to deal with the standard network ratings issues and the fact that most people watch them on demand or on the internet… like they do with night-time soaps!

So what!?! If you want a soap bring back OLTL, I dare them to cancel a fabulous show just to add one that hasn’t been tested. OLTL would be great once a week, believe that was even an idea on here, but ABC shot it down and said they’d never bring it back. Well, I’ll never watch it, still boycotting!

I love Josh and think this would be much better news if he was dealing with a cable network and not ABC. I no longer watch ABC and it would more then likely be canceled without giving it much of a chance to succeed, thats what they do.

It’s a cute idea that could work, but it’s also a concept that could help PROMOTE ABC’s daytime soaps, if only the executives had the courage to admit cancelling two out of three of them was a huge mistake. Bring back All My Children and One Life To Live by producing them in cost-effective Atlanta and broadcasting them on sister cable network ABC Family. It can be done if they’re willing to do some real work. The reality replacement shows showed very little effort on their part and faltered because of it. Roll up those white sleeves and make something again! We want those iconic characters back. We want scripted, well written content. Three to five million loyal viewers are waiting…

Thanks, MB Mom of 3! I should also add that Atlanta is just a 2-hour plane trip from New York City for talent like Erika Slezak (OLTL) who don’t wish to relocate and that many boutique hotels in The ATL would be thrilled to make monthly arrangements for their shooting schedules. For talent who would make the move, there’s so much additional work they could pick up from the numerous shows and films (Flight, starring Denzel Washington, for example) shooting in and around town. Atlanta is a real, affordable solution.

Sounds like American Girl Trapped on a Telenovela, which stars Robin Strasser and Guy Ecker to air on New Network Matriarch Television. they have a facebook page. It’s a comedy though. Airs next sept, 2013.

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